Garden Spiders

Common Orb Weaver (Neoscona oxacensis) 

Crab Spider (Misumenoides formosipes) does not spin a web but waits in a flower for a bee or a butterfly to come by.

Jeweled Araneus (Araneus gemmus) comes out in the evening and spins webs almost ten feet across high in the trees.

More Japanese Anemones

The Japanese Anemones (Anemone hupehensis) are in full bloom now.

More Figs

All the figs are getting ripe at once in the hot September weather.

I took about three pounds of figs and cooked them slowly on low heat until the juice was released.

Then I poured the figs and juice into a dampened jelly bag to drain for half a day.

Mix four cups of juice and two cups of sugar in a heavy pan and bring to a rapid boil.  Stir in one package of liquid pectin. 

The juice makes fig syrup that we use on waffles, cakes and yogurt.

Shopping for Orchids

Japanese Anemone

The Japanese Anemone (Anemone hupehensis) blooms from September to November.

More Summer Butterfies

The Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis) has white fringe on its lower wings.

Common Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)

Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis)

California Sycamore

The California Sycamore (Platanus racemosa) grows in my neighborhood park.

The sycamore bark is

textured and variegated in color.